A former company director who swindled some £50,000 in benefits has been spared immediate custody.
Sharon Kent continued to draw employment support allowance when receiving share dividends from a Mangotsfield-based company she ran with her ex-husband.
In June, the 50-year-old mum, of Bristol Road, Langford, pleaded guilty to fraud and furnishing false information.
After deferring sentence, The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC handed her an 11-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Bristol Crown Court.
She then attempted to avoid being photographed outside court - by wearing a bag over her head. You can watch the moment this happened on our website.
He told Kent: "This was no mistake. This was a long period of taking advantage of the benefit system.
"Albeit you had all sorts of problems which I'm not blind to."
Kent was handed 20 days' rehabilitation and told to pay £400 costs.
Adrian Chaplin, prosecuting, said Kent claimed benefit without disclosing her share dividends and was over-paid by just under £48,000.
In 2016, when her benefit application was adjusted to allow for a second home, she was required to declare her bank statements for the last six months.
Mr Chaplin told the court: "Every entry from the company, Renatec, had been removed.
"The bank statements had been adjusted so that they reflected what was left.
"That conduct involved significant planning."
Kent made no comment when the Department of Work and Pensions interviewed her.
The court heard she has paid back some £14,700 of her ill-gotten gains.
The judge made an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act for her to pay off the balance.
Emily Evans, defending, said her client ended a difficult relationship of some 20 years and had struggled to make ends meet after the marriage split.
She also suffered a series of bereavements in 2015, which included her father and uncle, as well as health problems.
Ms Evans said: "She was struggling to cope and perhaps not in the right frame of mind.
"This is a lady who has made a significant mistake in a very difficult period of her life which she is entirely remorseful about."
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